This is a simple Pin Wheel block that I pulled from EQ:
I would look at this block and decide where I can eliminate excess templates. The biggest area would be in the center. You don't need to make a 4 patch for the center. By eliminating the 4 patch lines, I have a simple square....just think of the fussy cutting you can do to make this boring center really shine.
Now I would look at this block and see where like colors line up and then decide which lines I will eliminate. On this block I figure making 4 HST's are easy enough so why not eliminate the two yellow squares that are beside the HST's and make them rectangles instead.
There, now I have gotten rid of 7 templates and in the process I have removed 8 seams that I no long have to hand quilt through :0)
Of course there are always rules you "have to" follow. In hand piecing there is only one. If you have a piece that points inward, you must have a seam. For example, the yellow corner pieces point in but there is no seam from the corner to the inny point.
I'll just add a seam through the yellow area when drawing up my block:
Yep, I have now made two template pieces instead of one, but the piecing will be so much easier.
I have used words like "have to" and "must have a seam" but as with all quilting rules, they are made to be broken. You can piece without a seam but it requires snipping your seam allowance almost to the stitching line and IMHO it weakens the block and there is a chance of snipping too far and ruining it.
Crispy
